We think this whole flap about the response to last week's blizzard has put the normally mild-mannered Sanitation Commissioner John Doherty on the defensive.

Rather than just take his lumps and criticism and move on, Doherty this week instead decided to stoke the flames of anger by announcing that if he were grading the city's snow removal process, “"From my point of view, they [DSNY] get an A+.”

An A+!

Oh commissioner, why did you have to reach so far? How about something a little more modest, like a B-, but with the opportunity for extra credit by getting out here and picking up the trash, but an A+!

Naturally, this didn't sit too well with the politicians and elected officials who have been vocal critics of the city's response to the disaster, who immediately pounced on Doherty's assessment. This came from Councilman Jumaane Williams of Brooklyns:

"At this time, no agency deserves anything close to an A+ with all the issues the city faced as a result of this storm. If anything, the Department of Sanitation might get an E for effort, but overall, the city failed this exam."